Help! I love this blanket/quilt and I am a new sewer....?
Question:How would I make something like this quilt pictured here..
I will be forever grateful if someone can help me make this for my wee one!!
http://www.rockinbabysling.com/shop/rock...
Answers:
This is the easiest quilt in the world to make. First, you need to find the right fabric. Get 100% cotton fabric or 100% cotton flannel, if you want a "cuddly" quilt. The price of cotton fabric ranges from $2 a yard for the really cheap stuff (that doesn't feel so great) on up to $10 a yard for the really nice stuff. Somewhere in the middle should be fine. Check JoAnn Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, a local quilt shop, or any of the thousands of quilt shops online. I like Hancocks of Paducah, myself. Based on the photo, you'd only need about 1/2" yard of each of the three fabrics, plus 1 to 1 1/2 yards of the backing fabric, plus the batting. This looks like a very puffy batting, which means polyester. I personally prefer a flatter cotton batting, especially for babies because of flammability issues.
Cut your center fabric 1/2" larger than the finished size. Keep the lines straight and the corners square by using a rotary cutter, rotary mat and rotary ruler. Cut the border fabrics into strips 1/2" wider than you want the finished borders. There are two ways you can assemble it, both fairly easy.
Option 1 - Pillowcase method, no binding, then quilted
Sew the first border strips to the top and bottom of the quilt, and then to the sides. Sew the second border strips to the top and bottom, and then to the sides. Use a 1/4" seam and try to stay consistent. Cut the batting and the backing to the same size as the finished top. Lay the top out right side of the fabric UP. Place backing on top of it right side DOWN, lining up all of the edges and corners. Place the BATTING on top of the BACKING. Pin to hold everything in place. On your sewing machine, sew around the edges. Leave a 4" - 6" space open at one side. Turn the quilt right side out - the batting will now be between the top and the backing, and all of the edges will be finished except at the opening. Fold the seam allowance at the opening to the inside and give it a little touch with an iron to crease it. Slip stitch it shut by hand. Smooth the entire quilt out and pick out the corners until they're square. Sew "in the ditch" through all of the layers around the borders. In the ditch means to sew in the seam. You're done!
Option 2 - Quilt-As-You-Go method, with a binding
Lay out your backing right side DOWN. The backing should be larger than the top - maybe three inches on each side. Lay the batting on top of the backing, also a bit larger than the top. Smooth out any puckers in the fabric and backing. Place the middle fabric of the top right side UP in the center of the batting. You can pin it if you want, but the fabric should stick fairly well to the batting. Lay the first border strip right side DOWN on top of the center fabric. Line up the cut edges. Sew through all four layers about 1/4" from the edge. Flip the border fabric up and smooth it out. Lay the next strip at the bottom edge of the center fabric, and sew through all layers. Flip up and smooth out. Repeat with the two sides. Repeat again with the second border. After it's all smoothed out, sew about 1/8" from the outer edge of the border. Trim the excess backing and batting. Apply a binding following the instructions in the last link below. (Bindings take a lot of explanation although they really aren't difficult to do. It's much easier to see photos or illustrations.)
Good luck!
you could try going online to Micheal's.com or joanns.com for info, tips &/or books on quilting. the 1st place is a craft supply store and the 2nd one is mainly a fabric store but does offer lots of info on sewing.
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